WO2002012944A1

WO2002012944A1 - Mirror attachment assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2002012944A1
Application number: PCT/US2001/024879
Authority: WO
Inventors: Richard G. Teal; Graham P. Rehill
Original assignee: Schefenacker Vision Systems USA Inc
Current assignee: SMR Automotive Systems USA Inc
Priority date: 2000-08-09
Filing date: 2001-08-09
Publication date: 2002-02-14
Anticipated expiration: 2003-02-09
Also published as: AU2001283194A1

Abstract

A vehicle door mirror assembly (14) having a housing (16), a spindle (20), and a retainer assembly (26). The mirror assembly (14) is easily installable and interchangeable on either door of the motor vehicle.

Description

MIRROR ATTACHMENT ASSEMBLY

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an exterior mirror for a vehicle of the type intended for mounting on a vehicle door and further to an exterior mirror and mounting apparatus which facilitates mounting on a vehicle door.

2. DISCUSSION

Exterior mirrors for vehicles have commonly included an exterior mirror mounted to the door of a motor vehicle. Typically, the exterior mirror has been provided to allow for a stationary mounting for side and rear viewing from the interior of a vehicle. The conventional exterior mirrors for a vehicle include a base member with an abutment face adapted to abut against a vehicle door with studs or pillars projecting from the abutment face, so as to project through holes in a structural member of the vehicle door. Attachment means are provided from inside the vehicle to hold the bracket in place. If electrical connections are required for a mirror adjustment mechanism or a mirror heating element, such electrical connections must be made as a separate operation. Installation of such a mirror is relatively complicated and time consuming. Moreover, the base of the exterior mirror is stationary in position and permanently affixed to the vehicle exterior.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an exterior mirror for a vehicle which is removable interchangeable on either side of the motor vehicle. IT is a further object of the present invention to provide an exterior mirror which is easily adaptable and provides a simplified method for horizontal and vertical adjustment, either electrically or manually. It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide an exterior mirror which is easily installable and removable on either side of the motor vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to a mirror assembly including a mirror located on the exterior of the motor vehicle, a retainer located within the interior of the motor vehicle, and a spindle which connects the mirror and the retainer through an aperture provided by the door of the vehicle. The mirror located on exterior side of the vehicle further includes a housing having a reflective member. The spindle of the mirror assembly is attached to the housing of the exterior mirror and provides a means for coupling the housing of the exterior mirror with the motor vehicle. An aperture located on the door of the vehicle is provided for easy installation. The retainer of the mirror assembly, which is connected to the spindle, is inserted through the aperture provided by the door of the vehicle. Once the mirror assembly is placed within the aperture of the vehicle door, the retainer portion of the mirror assembly is fully located within the interior of the vehicle. The retainer portion of the mirror assembly may then be locked into position, securing the mirror assembly to the vehicle door. A switch is provided on the retainer portion of the mirror assembly allowing for adjustment of the housing on the exterior of the vehicle.

The present invention also provides a mounting apparatus for the mirror assembly. The mounting apparatus is located on the outboard and inboard sides of the vehicle door. Upon locking the mirror assembly into place, the mounting apparatus is compressed on either side of the vehicle door, thereby securing the mirror assembly in place. These and other advantages and features of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description, claims and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The drawings, which form an integral part of the specification, are to be read in conjunction therewith, and like reference numerals are employed to designate identical components in the various views: Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a partial vehicle door having an exterior mirror; Figure 2 is a partially broken-away rear view of the mirror assembly installed on a vehicle door in an unlocked position;

Figure 3 is a partially broken-away top view of the mirror assembly showing a first stage of installation; Figure 4 is an end view taken along the line A of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a rear view of the mirror assembly showing a second stage of installation in a locked position;

Figure 6 is an end view along the line B of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is an interior perspective view of the mirror assembly locked to the vehicle door; and

Figure 8 is an interior perspective view of the mirror assembly in a folded and locked position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring to Figure 1 , a vehicle door 10 includes a window 12 and has a door mirror assembly 14 mounted thereon. As can be seen in Figure 2, door mirror assembly 14 comprises a housing 16 including a reflective element 18. Mirror assembly 14 further includes a spindle 20 having a first end 22 and a second end 24. First end 22 of spindle 20 attaches to a retainer assembly 26 of mirror assembly 14. Retainer assembly 26 of mirror assembly 14 includes a lever 28, a switch 30, and a cam 32 which provides a means for interlocking mirror assembly 14 to door 10 of a motor vehicle. Second end 24 of spindle 20 is adaptably attached to mirror housing 16 of mirror assembly 14.

Vehicle door 10 is provided with an aperture 33 which allows for the attachment of mirror assembly 14 to the motor vehicle. Upon inserting mirror assembly 14 into vehicle door 10, aperture 33 initially receives retainer assembly 26 of mirror assembly 14. Retainer assembly 26 is guided through aperture 33, resulting in retainer assembly 26 disposed within the interior of the vehicle and spindle 20 placed within aperture 33 of vehicle door 10. Placement of mirror assembly 14 within aperture 33 provides the placement of retainer assembly 26 within the interior of the motor vehicle and mirror housing 16 on the exterior of the vehicle, while spindle 20 is disposed within aperture 33 connecting the two components.

Mirror assembly 14 components includes a plurality of pivot axis for movement and rotation to enable adjustment and retraction of mirror assembly 14. A central pivot axis 34 runs horizontally through the entire mirror assembly 14 providing upward and downward vertical adjustment and rotation. A first vertical pivot axis 36 is located at the mating of first end 22 of spindle 20 to retainer component 26. The first pivot axis 36 is a vertical pivot axis allowing for the rotation of retainer assembly 26 from an extended position as shown in Figure 2, to a folded locker position as shown in Figures 5-8. A second vertical pivot axis 38 is located at the mating of second end 24 of spindle 20 and mirror housing 16. Second vertical pivot axis 38 allows for inward and outward rotational movement of mirror housing 16 and reflective element 18 with reference to spindle 20 of mirror assembly 14. Mirror assembly 14 further includes a pair of electrical conductors 40. Electrical conductors 40 run along an interior 42 of spindle 10 and provide electrical energy from a power source of the motor vehicle to a motor 44 of mirror assembly 14. Specifically, motor 44 is disposed within housing 16 and positioned forward of reflective element 18. Electrical conductors 40 provide electrical power from the power source for heating mirror housing 16 and/or reflective element 18 and for operating motor 44 to rotate mirror housing 16 and reflective element 18 about second pivot axis 38.

As seen in Figure 2, mounting apparatus 50 secures mirror assembly 14 to the vehicle door 10. Mounting apparatus 50 is comprised of an outboard mounting flange 52 and an inboard mounting flange 54. Mounting apparatus 50 is positioned on either side of vehicle door 10, thereby providing interior and exterior support members for mirror assembly 14.

Outboard mounting flange 52 is positioned on the exterior of vehicle door 10 abutted against an outer panel 56 of vehicle door 10. Outboard mounting flange 52 is designed to have a first side 58 which coincides with the shape of outer panel 56 and a second side 60 which receives and secures second end 24 of spindle 20 to housing 16. Outboard mounting flange 52 includes an outboard cylindrical bore 62 which is formed to received second end 24 of spindle 20 to allow for insertion of a portion of mirror assembly 14 through outboard mounting flange 52. Upon insertion of a portion of mirror assembly 14 within vehicle door 10, a gasket 64 is disposed at the junction of outboard mounting flange 52 and second end 24 of spindle 20 in order to securely reinforce and couple the two components together.

Located interior and adjacent to an inner panel 66 of vehicle door 10 is inboard mounting flange 54. Inboard mounting flange 54 has a first side 68 designed to coincide with inner panel 66 and a second side 70 designed to securely receive retainer assembly 26 of mirror assembly 14. As with outboard mounting flange 52, inboard mounting flange 54 further includes a central bore 72 which provides an opening for placement of retainer assembly 26 within the interior of the motor vehicle. Inboard aperture 72 includes a recessed portion 74 which receives the cam 32 of retainer assembly 26 for interlocking mirror assembly 14 to vehicle door 10. Recessed portion 74 of inboard aperture 72 allows for full rotation of cam 32 when inserting and interlocking mirror assembly 14.

Figures 3 through 6 provided perspective and sequential views of the installation of mirror assembly 14 to vehicle door 10 of the motor vehicle. As seen in Figure 3, mirror assembly 14 is inserted through vehicle door 10 through outboard aperture 62 provided by outboard mounting flange 52, aperture 33 provided by door 10, and finally inboard aperture 72 provided by inboard mounting flange 54. Initially, mirror assembly 14 is placed in an upward facing orientation and is slidably received through the plurality of apertures provided by outboard mounting flange 52, vehicle door 10, and inboard mounting flange 54.

Figure 4 provides an end view of retainer assembly 26 and the relative orientation of cam 32 following the upward insertion of mirror assembly 14. The upward insertion of mirror assembly 14 causes the cam interlocking tabs 76 to align with slots formed in inboard aperture 72 of inboard mounting flange 54.

Following placement of mirror assembly 14 in an upward orientation through vehicle door 10, mirror assembly 14 is rotated approximately 90° in a rearward direction. The rearward rotation of mirror assembly 14 thereby allows reflective element 18 of mirror housing 16 to face in a rearward direction. Rotation of mirror assembly 14 is along horizontal central pivot axis 34 which traverses the entire horizontal length of mirror assembly 14. Furthermore, rearward rotation of mirror assembly 14 concurrently rotates cam interlocking tabs 76 the same degree of rotation as mirror housing 14. Figure 6 provides an end perspective view of retainer component 26 in a rotated and locked position. Concurrently with the rotation of mirror assembly 14, retainer assembly 26, which includes lever 28, switch 30 and cam 32, moves through the same relative degree of rotation. Rotation of mirror assembly 14 results in simultaneous rotation of cam interlocking tabs 76. Cam interlocking tabs are aligned with interlocking slots 78 in aperture 72 of inboard mounting flange 54. The alignment of cam interlocking tabs 76 with the complimentary interlocking slots 78 provides the secured retainment and positioning of mirror assembly 14 in relation to vehicle door 10. Following the alignment of interlocking tabs 76 with interlocking slots 78, lever 28 of retainer 26 is folded inward towards vehicle door 10, securing mirror assembly 14 in position.

Retainer component 26 further includes electrical switch 30 disposed on lever 28. Electrical switch 30 is disposed on the outside of lever 28 once retainer component 26 is locked in position. Electrical switch 30 includes a plurality of adjustment switches 80. In particular, a powerfold switch is provided which gives mirror housing 16 the ability to fold in an inward direction thereby abutting mirror housing 16 against door 10 and window 12 of the motor vehicle. The extended position of the mirror housing can be see in Figure 7, in contrast to the folded position of mirror housing 16 in Figure 8. While specific embodiments have been shown and described as detailed to illustrate the principles of the present invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied without departing from such principles. For example, one skilled in the art would vitally recognize from such discussion and from the accompanying drawings and claims the various changes, modifications and variations can be made there-end without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as subscribed in the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising: a reflective element; a housing, the housing supporting the reflective element; a spindle, the spindle having a first end including a first pivot axis and a second end operatively connected to the housing; and a retainer pivotally attached to the first end, the retainer pivoting about the first pivot axis between a released position in which the mirror assembly may be removed from the vehicle and a locked position in which the mirror assembly is securely fastened to the vehicle.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second end of the spindle comprises a second, vertical pivot axis, the housing pivoting with respect to the second pivot axis between an extended position and a folded position.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second end of the spindle comprises a second pivot axis, the housing pivoting with respect to the second pivot axis between an extended position and a folded position, and the mirror assembly comprising a motor operatively connected to the housing, the motor pivoting the housing about the second pivot axis.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a pair of electrical conductors, the electrical conductors supplying electrical energy to the motor, the electrical conductors being routed to the motor internally through the spindle.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a switch formed on the retainer, the switch energizing the electrical conductors to actuate the motor to displace the motor between the first position and the second position.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the retainer pivots about a generally horizontal, central axis of the spindle, wherein rotation of the retainer about the central axis causes corresponding rotation of the housing about the central axis.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the retainer further provides a cam which may be rotated from a first position to a second position, wherein second position securely locks the mirror assembly to the vehicle.

8. A vehicle mounting and mirror assembly comprising: a reflective element; a housing, the housing supporting the reflective element; a spindle, the spindle having a first end including a first pivot axis and a second end operatively connected to the housing; a retainer pivotally attached to the first end, the retainer pivoting about the first pivot axis between a released position in which the missor assembly may be removed from the vehicle and a locked position in which the mirror assembly is securely fastened to the vehicle; and a body member having an inner panel and an outer panel, the inner and outer panels each having a mounting aperture, wherein the retainer and a portion of the spindle pass through the mounting apertures with the retainer in a released position and wherein when the retainer is moved to a locked position, the retainer exerts a compressing force between the inner and outer panels.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 comprising: an inboard mounting flange operatively connected to the inner panel; and an outboard mounting flange operatively connected to the outer panel, wherein the spindle passes through apertures formed on the respective inboard and outboard panels and engages the outer panel, and the retainer engages the inner panel when the retainer is in a locked position.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the second end of the spindle comprises a second, vertical pivot axis, the housing pivoting with respect to the second pivot axis between an extended position and a folded position.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the second end of the spindle comprises a second, vertical pivot axis, the housing pivoting with respect to the second pivot axis between an extended position and a folded position, and further comprising a motor for pivoting the housing about the second pivot axis.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a pair of electrical conductors, the electrical conductors supplying electrical energy to the motor the electrical conductors being routed to the motor internally through the spindle.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a switch formed on the retainer, the switch energizing the electrical conductors to actuate the motor to displace the motor between the first position and the second position.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the retainer pivots about a generally horizontal, central axis of the spindle, wherein rotation of the retainer about the central axis causes corresponding rotation of the housing about the central axis.

15. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the retainer further provides a cam which may be rotated from a first position to a second position, wherein second position securely locks the mirror assembly to the vehicle.

16. A vehicle mounting and mirror assembly comprising: a reflective element; a housing, the housing supporting the reflective element; a spindle, the spindle having a first end including a first pivot axis and a second end operatively connected to the housing; a retainer pivotally attached to the first end, the retainer pivoting about the first pivot axis between a released position in which the mirror assembly may be removed from the vehicle and a locked position in which the mirror assembly is securely fastened to the vehicle; a body member having an inner panel and an outer panel, the inner and outer panel, the inner and outer panels each having a mounting aperture; an inboard mounting flange operatively connected to the inner panel and having an aperture coinciding with the body panel aperture; and an outboard mounting flange operatively connected to the outer panel and having an aperture coinciding with the body panel aperture, wherein the retainer and a portion of the spindle pass through the apertures with the retainer in a released position, and wherein when the retainer is moved to a locked position, the retainer a compressing force between the inner and outer panels, the spindle engaging the outer panel and the retainer engages the inner panel when the retainer is in a locked position.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the second end of the spindle comprises a generally vertical second pivot axis, the housing pivoting with respect to the second pivot axis between an extended position and a folded position.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the second end of the spindle comprises a generally vertical second pivot axis, the housing pivoting with respect to the second pivot axis between an extended position and a folded position, and further comprising a motor for pivoting the housing about the second pivot axis.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising a pair of electrical conductors, the electrical conductors supply electrical energy to the motor the electrical conductors being routed to the motor internally through the spindle.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising a switch formed on the retainer, the switch energizing the electrical conductors to actuate the motor to displace the motor between the first position and the second position.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the retainer pivots about a generally horizontal, central axis of the spindle, wherein rotation of the retainer about the central axis causes corresponding rotation of the housing about the central axis.

22. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the retainer further provides a cam which may be rotated from a first position to a second position, wherein second position securely locks the mirror assembly to the vehicle.